Name ______________________________ Class ___________________ Date __________________
Skills Worksheet
Directed Reading A
Section: Physical Properties
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
_____ 1. A characteristic of matter that can be observed or measured without
changing the identity of the matter is a
a. matter property.
c. chemical property.
b. physical property.
d. volume property.
_____ 2. Some examples of physical properties are
a. color, odor, and age.
c. color, odor, and magnetism.
b. color, odor, and speed.
d. color, odor, and anger.
Match the correct example with the correct physical property. Write the letter in
the space provided.
D ___ 3. Aluminum can be flattened into sheets
of foil.
A ___ 4. An ice cube floats in a glass of water.
F____ 5. Copper can be pulled into thin wires.
C ___ 6. Plastic foam protects you from hot
liquid.
B ___ 7. Flavored drink mix dissolves in water.
E ___ 8. An onion gives off a very distinctive
smell.
a. state
b. solubility
c. thermal conductivity
d. malleability
e. odor
f. ductility
g. density
G ___ 9. A golf ball has more mass than a table
tennis ball.
10. Density is the ________Physical Property______________ that describes the
relationship between mass and volume.
11. Objects such as a cotton ball and a small tomato can occupy similar volumes
but vary greatly in________Density______________.
12. If you pour different liquids into a graduated cylinder, the liquids will form
layers based upon differences in the __________Density____________ of
each liquid.
13. Which layer of liquid would settle on the bottom of a graduated cylinder? The
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Holt Science and Technology
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The Properties of Matter
Name ______________________________ Class ___________________ Date __________________
densest layer will settle on the bottom
Directed Reading A continued
14. Where will the least dense liquid be found?
The least dense layer will be found on top. _____________________________
15. Why would 1 kg of lead be less awkward to carry around than 1 kg of
feathers?
1 kg of lead would take up less space than 1 kg of feathers ________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
16. What will happen to a solid object made from matter with a greater density
than water when it is dropped into water?
The object will sink. ______________________________________________
17. How will knowing the density of a substance help you determine whether an
object made from that material will float in water?
If you know the density of the substance, you could compare it with the
density of water. If the density of the object is less than the density of water it
will float.
_______________________________________________________________
18. What is the equation for density?
Mass divided by the Volume ________________________________________
19. What do D, V, and m stand for in the equation for density?
D = density, V = volume , m = mass __________________________________
20. The units for density take the form of a mass unit divided by a(n)
__________Volume____________unit.
21. What are two reasons why density is a useful property for identifying
substances?
A substance’s density is always the same at a given temperature and pressure
and because most substances have different densities ____________________
_______________________________________________________________
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The Properties of Matter
Name ______________________________ Class ___________________ Date __________________
Directed Reading A continued
PHYSICAL CHANGES DO NOT FORM NEW SUBSTANCES
22. A change that affects only the physical properties of a substance is known as
a(n) __________physical Change____________
23. What kind of changes are melting and freezing?
Changes in state __________________________________________________
Identify which of the following activities represent physical changes by writing PC
in the space provided if they cause only physical changes. Put an X beside any
that do not.
PC __ 24. sanding a piece of wood
X ___ 25. baking bread
PC __ 26. crushing an aluminum can
PC __ 27. melting an ice cube
PC __ 28. dissolving sugar in water
PC __ 29. molding a piece of silver
30. When a substance undergoes a physical change, its
__________identity____________does not change.
31. What is changed when matter undergoes a physical change? Give an example
to explain your answer.
Just it’s state, such as going from a liquid to a gas. ______________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Original content Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Holt Science and Technology
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The Properties of Matter